Hearing You Say Love chapter 52
Su’s Cousin
It had almost become a routine for a few people to gather in Song Zhixian’s hospital room around six every evening for dinner.
Su Ming would bring a meal he prepared for Teacher Song, while the others would order takeout together.
To coordinate what to order daily, Zou Jingnan even created a group chat called “What Are We Eating Today?”
Group members: Zou Jingnan, Zou Beiyuan, Su Ming, Su Mo, and Fu Ruoqin.
On her first day in the group, Fu Ruoqin said, [Order whatever you want; I’ll pay.] Then she muted the group.
Normally, only the four of them would chat there.
Su Ming’s ankle was fully healed, so he’d drive himself to the hospital after preparing the meal.
That day when he arrived, he noticed a message in the group chat from half an hour ago.
Zou Jingnan: [I feel like pizza today. Any objections? If not, I’ll order it.]
No one responded.
While waiting in line at the parking lot, Su Ming replied: [Great! I feel like pizza today too.]
Zou Jingnan: [Su Ming, you’re the best! Kiss.jpg]
Zou Jingnan: [@Su Ming When are you coming? The pizza’s almost here.]
Su Ming: [I’m here. Just parking the car.]
Zou Beiyuan: [I’ll come down to meet you.]
Zou Jingnan glanced at Zou Beiyuan with a puzzled expression. The parking lot was just downstairs; what was there to meet?
She turned to Su Mo to complain, but then noticed Su Mo chuckling at his phone. He had been laughing like that since he came after work—over 20 minutes.
Zou Jingnan: “…”
Out of the three guys, Su Ming seemed like the only normal one.
After parking, Su Ming walked around to the passenger side to grab something. He sensed someone approaching from behind. Thinking it was the owner of the neighboring car, he prepared to close the door, only to feel an arm wrap around his waist.
The familiar citrus scent hit him, and he turned to see Zou Beiyuan’s face.
The parking lot was crowded with people. Su Ming glanced around, then closed the door and stepped aside to create some space between him and Zou Beiyuan, though his gaze inadvertently fell on the cut on Zou Beiyuan’s lip.
His face felt a bit warm.
Zou Beiyuan held his gaze for a few seconds, then took the bag hanging on Su Ming’s wrist.
At this time, the hospital building was busy, and the elevator was packed. Su Ming found himself squished next to Zou Beiyuan, almost pressed up against him.
Zou Beiyuan lifted his arm to give him some space, forming a small shielded area in front of Su Ming to keep him from pressing against others.
Feeling Zou Beiyuan’s warmth, Su Ming couldn’t help but recall the earlier incident on the sofa—heavy breaths, pounding heartbeat, the smooth yet firm touch of his hand, and the heated sensation left by Zou Beiyuan.
As the elevator rose and people got off at various floors, they remained standing close together when only the two of them were left by the sixteenth floor.
“Are you feeling hot?” Zou Beiyuan asked suddenly.
Su Ming shook his head, briefly meeting Zou Beiyuan’s gaze before quickly looking away.
Zou Beiyuan gave his shoulder a light squeeze. “Your face is really red.”
When the elevator doors opened, Su Ming walked out first.
The pizza Zou Jingnan had ordered was already there, and she cheered, “I’m starving! Ge made me late for class, and I nearly missed the roll call. I’m eating extra to calm down!”
Zou Beiyuan replied, “Alright, take my portion. I have training later, so I’ll eat a bit less.”
Zou Jingnan was unimpressed. “No need. I ordered three!”
Fu Ruoqin had just arrived from work, and as she unpacked Song Zhixian’s meal from Su Ming’s bag, she smiled while watching the two siblings bicker.
She paused when she saw the soup containers. Su Ming had made two kinds, one bone broth for Song Zhixian, and another pumpkin-green bean soup, probably meant for her.
Fu Ruoqin didn’t usually eat much for dinner, mostly fruits and vegetables. She’d have some of what the kids ordered if it suited her, or skip it if not. Not eating dinner had become a habit.
But since Su Ming started cooking for Song Zhixian daily, he’d also add a little something extra for her each time—sometimes corn or yam, sometimes various vegetable soups. Simple, but carefully prepared.
Just like tonight.
Su Ming’s gestures were always thoughtful, without drawing attention. He’d make it seem incidental, as if anyone could take some if they wanted, without any obligation.
What a considerate young man, she thought, no wonder Mom likes him so much.
Fu Ruoqin took out a small bowl of green bean soup and handed it to Zou Beiyuan. “Here, Xiao Yuan, have some. It’s good for cooling down .”
“Huh?” Zou Beiyuan, who was serving pizza to Zou Jingnan, looked puzzled. “Cooling down… What’s there to cool down?”
“Your mouth,” she pointed to her own lip corner, “it’s inflamed, isn’t it?”
Su Ming: “…”
Zou Beiyuan’s face turned suspiciously red. “It’s not that; a mosquito bit me.”
“A mosquito?” Fu Ruoqin asked, confused.
“Yeah,” he replied calmly. “No need to cool down anything.”
From her single-seater, Song Zhixian commented to Fu Ruoqin, “There do seem to be quite a few mosquitoes. Let’s get an electric mosquito repellent after dinner. Even Xiao Yuan’s neck looks bitten red.”
Su Ming’s heart skipped a beat. That mark on Zou Beiyuan’s neck… He’d lost control earlier and, realizing it might leave a mark, had picked a collared polo shirt for Zou Beiyuan.
Yet he hadn’t covered it completely; a red mark was still visible.
Zou Beiyuan instinctively reached up to touch it. Sitting close, Zou Jingnan noticed it instantly.
“That’s no mosquito bite!” she blurted. “It’s clearly a—”
She stopped mid sentence, silenced by a cold look from Zou Beiyuan.
It was clearly a hickey.
“What is it?” Song Zhixian asked.
“It’s…” Zou Jingnan finally found his voice after a long pause, “Just a mosquito bite.”
Su Ming felt a tingling on his scalp; Zou Jingnan had figured it out.
Would Zou Jingnan tell Teacher Song?
What would Teacher Song think of them?
The meal was tasteless, and even Zou Jingnan, who usually insisted on eating more, barely touched her food before putting it down.
After dinner, Song Zhixian asked Fu Ruoqin to accompany her downstairs to the convenience store to buy an electric mosquito repellent and take a short walk.
After they left, Zou Jingnan slapped Zou Beiyuan on the back, “You actually dared to mess around with women?!”
Zou Beiyuan was dumbfounded, “?”
Su Mo also looked shocked.
“This afternoon,” Zou Jingnan’s eyes were red with anger, “you lied to me, saying you were going to see Su Ming Ge. Who were you actually with? You don’t have a girlfriend so who bit your neck? You even made me late! I despise men who mess around. If you’re like that, I don’t consider you my brother anymore!”
Zou Beiyuan relaxed and smiled, turning to glance at Su Ming before he was about to confess openly, “I wasn’t lying; I really went to see…”
With a clatter, Su Ming accidentally knocked over the soup pot, spilling soup all over the table. They all scrambled to grab napkins to clean up the mess.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Su Ming tugged on Zou Beiyuan’s arm, his face pale, signaling with sign language: Don’t tell her!
Seeing the fear in Su Ming’s eyes, Zou Beiyuan paused and remained silent.
After they cleaned the table, Zou Jingnan continued to question her brother, “So what exactly were you doing?”
Zou Beiyuan looked at Su Ming and still said nothing.
Su Ming turned his face away with a grim expression and started tidying up the leftovers on the table.
“Say something!” Zou Jingnan punched Zou Beiyuan again.
Zou Beiyuan remained silent.
“Fine, I guess we can’t keep this secret any longer,” Su Mo spoke up. “I’ll tell the truth. Actually, your brother is dating our sister.”
Zou Beiyuan: “?”
Su Ming: ??
Zou Jingnan: “Huh? You guys have a sister?”
“Yes,” Su Mo said with a straight face, “actually our cousin.”
“Really?” Zou Jingnan looked at Su Ming. “Ming Ge, was my brother at your place this afternoon to see your cousin?”
Su Ming had no choice but to nod.
Zou Beiyuan: “…”
Zou Jingnan got excited, completely forgetting to scold her brother for making her late. She asked eagerly, “When did this happen?! How did you hide it so well? What does she look like? Show me a picture!”
There was no picture, but Su Mo spun an elaborate story, from her name to her job.
With her concerns relieved, Zou Jingnan, thinking her brother wasn’t a scumbag, happily grabbed another slice of pizza and asked her brother, “So, how did you two meet?”
Zou Beiyuan glared at Su Ming and Su Mo and said through gritted teeth, “Their cousin fell for my handsome looks and physique.”
Su Ming: …
After saying this, Zou Beiyuan asked Su Ming with a blank expression, “Isn’t that right, Ming Ge?”
Su Ming took a deep breath and nodded.
Zou Jingnan reached out and tugged at Zou Beiyuan’s collar, revealing the hickey. “Wow, that’s a serious mark. Is my sister-in-law really that feisty?”
Zou Beiyuan shot a cold glance at Su Ming, “Yes, very feisty.”
And, your sister-in-law happens to be your favorite comic artist, Shu Yu Ming Jin. Bet you didn’t expect that.
Soon, their aunt and grandmother came back from shopping, and Zou Jingnan immediately shared the good news.
Upon hearing this, Fu Ruoqin eagerly suggested Zou Beiyuan invite the “Su cousin” to dinner to meet the family. When he ignored her, she turned to Su Ming, bombarding him with questions, only to remember that Su Ming couldn’t speak. So, she turned to Su Mo for answers.
Afraid that he’d struggle to keep up with too many lies, Su Mo hesitated and redirected the questions back to Zou Beiyuan.
Irritated, Zou Beiyuan frowned, stood up from the couch, and said, “I’m leaving; I’ll be late for training.”
Su Mo and Su Ming stood up as well, saying they needed to go. Frustrated that she hadn’t gotten the full story, Fu Ruoqin watched as they all left.
After they were gone, Fu Ruoqin said to her mother, “See? I told you not to worry. Our Xiao Yuan won’t have trouble finding a girlfriend. Look, he already has one! No wonder he’s so close to Su Ming—it’s because he’s into his cousin.”
Song Zhixian frowned, watching them leave, a heavy look in her eyes.
The three of them each drove their own that day. As soon as they reached the underground garage, Su Mo separated from them, heading toward his car, while Zou Beiyuan followed Su Ming toward the black Q5.
Knowing that Zou Beiyuan was upset, Su Ming didn’t ask why he wasn’t going into his own car and instead walked straight to the Q5. He opened the driver’s door, planning to get in and calm him down.
Just then, a strong arm reached over his shoulder and slammed the door shut. Su Ming had no choice but to turn around and face Zou Beiyuan.
With both hands pressed against the car roof, Zou Beiyuan had Su Ming pinned between the car and himself. Looking down at him expressionlessly, he asked, “Su Ming, is dating me that embarrassing?”